Black August: A Month of Reflection, Resistance, and Resilience
Black August is a time to honor the legacy of Black freedom fighters and the ongoing liberation struggle. Rooted in the history of Black resistance, this observance began in the 1970s within California prisons, initiated by incarcerated individuals who sought to highlight the injustices faced by Black people, particularly those behind bars.
The month is a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by activists imprisoned for their fight against systemic oppression. It encourages us to reflect on the harsh realities of the prison-industrial complex and its disproportionate impact on Black communities.
Black August is important because it acknowledges the resilience of those silenced and isolated by the state, reminding us that the fight for justice continues beyond the bars. By remembering these activists, we honor their courage and commitment to the cause of freedom and strengthen our collective resolve to challenge and dismantle the systems of oppression that persist today.
In recognizing Black August, we affirm the importance of solidarity, education, and action in the ongoing struggle for Black liberation. It is a time to remember and recommit to the pursuit of justice for all.
Some names to recognize:
Mumia Abu-Jamal: A former Black Panther and journalist who was convicted of the 1981 murder of a police officer in Philadelphia. His case has been highly controversial, with supporters arguing for his innocence and fair trial rights.
Jalil Muntaqim (formerly Anthony Bottom): A former member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army, convicted of murdering two police officers in New York in 1971. He was granted parole in 2020 after serving nearly 50 years in prison.
Herman Bell: Another former member of the Black Liberation Army, convicted of murdering two police officers in New York in 1971. He was granted parole in 2018 after serving over 40 years in prison.
Russell Maroon Shoatz was a community activist who founded the Black Unity Council and served in the Black Liberation Army before his 1971 conviction for murdering a Pennsylvania police officer. On May 8, 2013, the self-designated "New African Political Prisoner” Shoatz filed a lawsuit demanding an end to his solitary confinement.
Ed Poindexter was one of the leading members of Omaha, Nebraska’s Black Panther chapter. The chapter worked to desegregate Omaha’s Peony Park Swimming Pool and tackled domestic issues such as welfare rights, police brutality, absentee landlords, and Omaha’s school system. Poindexter and Mondo we Langa were sentenced to life in prison in 1971 on convictions for a bombing that resulted in the death of an Omaha police officer.
Herman Wallace: Imprisoned in 1971 in Angola, Louisiana, for an armed robbery, Herman Wallace organized the Black Panther chapter called Angola 3. The group advocated desegregation within the prison, helped prisoners file legal papers, and led organized strikes for better conditions until he was convicted of killing a prison guard in 1972. But with one of the witnesses being legally blind and no physical evidence linking the accused Wallace and another Angola 3 member, Albert Woodfox, to the crime, the two continue to fight their convictions. In 2009, Wallace was moved to Hunt Correctional Centre in Louisiana.
